How to stay healthy during business trips

Keeping a healthy routine while you travel is hard, especially when you’re on a work trip. Abnormal flight times, busy schedules and jet lag are routine when it comes to the lives of those who frequently travel for business. Research has shown that people who travel incessantly because of their jobs are more prone to physical and mental health issues than the general workforce. From lowered immunity to backaches, irregular sleeping patterns to stress-induced headaches, there’s a whole plethora of problems that come with work traveling.

So what can you do to keep yourself healthy when flying for an important meeting? Here we’re sharing some tips and tricks to make the best of your business trips by staying healthy.

1. Pre Plan and Exercise

If you know that you’re going to be traveling soon, make sure you get your priorities in order. Immunity and vitamin supplements are a reasonable precaution to take for combatting travel stress and fatigue. Do check out the amenities at the hotel you will be staying at. An in-house gym, swimming pool, tennis court or fitness classes are excellent ways of keeping yourself fit and active even while you’re on the go. If such amenities are not available, downloading fitness and meditation apps can help in keeping you healthy and motivated. Do some yoga in your hotel room, stretch your body or go for a brisk walk in a park nearby; just ensure you indulge in some physical activity to keep yourself fit.

2. Snack Healthy

When you’re on the go, you don’t always have access to healthy food. You’re generally limited to snacks and fast food that are definitely not good on a regular basis. Things like potato chips and candies only fill you up for a short while and mostly end up depleting your energy levels due to high salt and sugar levels. Hence, we suggest packing some light, healthy snacks like vegetable sandwiches, corn salads, poha, pop corns and some fruits for that mid-meal munching or while you’re waiting at the airport. Keeping a stack of protein bars or dry fruits are also a great alternative as these can keep you full for longer hours.

3. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.

The most important thing when it comes to traveling, especially when you frequently travel for work is to stay hydrated. A dehydrated body can have severe effects on your ability to comprehend information logically as well as make you susceptible to the various bacteria and viruses floating around in the air, especially when you find yourself in a new foreign place. A general thumb rule for keeping yourself hydrated through the day is to have at least eight glasses of water. Always try and keep a water bottle with you, if you can find one with a built-in filter, then even better. Ask for water the moment you get on a flight and to ensure that you drink some before taking off. Hotels generally offer water bottles as a part of amenities in a room; make sure that you drink some before sleeping and after waking up.

4. Avoid Alcohol

When you’re traveling for work, there may be opportunities for you to have a drink or two, whether it’s for business dinner with colleagues or in-flight service due to an upgrade. However, limiting the amount of alcohol you consume while you’re traveling is extremely important as not only can it have a detrimental effect on your sleep patterns but it can also induce fatigue and reduce your overall efficacy. Alcoholic drinks also have a high caloric content that can put a dent into the healthy lifestyle you’re trying to lead while on a trip.

5. Take Enough Sleep

When you’re busy globetrotting, you’re bound to lose out on some sleep, whether it’s due to different time zones, early or late flights, late-night engagements with colleagues, something or the other is bound to make you fall behind on your sleep for the day. Lack of sleep can have an adverse effect on your overall productivity and health as well. So try and commit yourself to catching up on your sleep the moment you land, or if that’s not possible, take some power naps in between your work to keep yourself going throughout the day. Most of all, it’s good to utilize the downtime while you’re in the air; try to get a window seat so that you can enjoy your sleep uninterrupted.

6. Mindful Eating

It’s easy enough to get carried away ordering food when you’re traveling; sometimes you can’t resist the delicious local dishes or fast food you get on the go. However, when you’re traveling extensively for work, you’ve got to look into healthier alternatives. If you know that you’re going to be having a heavy meal at a lunch meet up, make sure that the dinner is extremely light and easy to digest. Go for lean proteins, tones of vegetables, nutrient-rich soups, and salads, and don’t be shy asking for healthier options when ordering food.

7. Keep an Eye on the Things You’re Touching

One of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re traveling is to make sure that you keep your hands clean. Why? Because your hands are going to be touching everything from doorknobs to food trays to luggage handles that have been in cargo with other shipments. Moreover, these same hands are going to be feeding you, touching your eyes and ears as the day wears on. Invest in a good hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes. Make sure that you wash your hands after touching suspect knobs and other things. Most of us, dry your hands with either a paper towel or your handkerchief. Just don’t put your hands under the hand dryer in the bathroom that blows hot air; it blows bacteria-ridden air.

Lastly, make sure that you include some activities that are guaranteed to be fun while you’re on your business trip. It is essential that you give your body and mind some time to relax away from the hotel room. Pick an excursion on a free day or go to the pool and lounge around with a good book. Just make sure that you’re giving yourself a breather and maintain your travel routine as carefully as possible to the one you have at home. Being healthy and fit should be an overall lifestyle choice and not something you follow just while you’re traveling. The more you get used to a healthy lifestyle in the regular scheme of things, the less willing you’ll be to compromise on it when traveling for work.

Want to get the best of everything while you’re traveling for work? Check these hotels in India to see if they suit your needs when it comes to maintaining a healthy and fit lifestyle on the go.

I am obsessed with old edifices, museums and different cultures. When not writing and editing stories, I love to explore forgotten ruins or indulge in gardening and cooking – the other things I'm passionate about. My motto in life is “Love what you Do and Do what you Love”, and that is what is driving me all through.